Thursday, 28 June 2012

After my visit to the Farne Islands last year, I wanted to make a return this year, choosing the exact same date as, as it happens, there was a break in the poor weather we’ve been having. Strangely, it was the exact opposite of last year where it was sunny until I got to the islands when it became overcast. This time no sun was forecasted but there was the chance of rain, however, as the boat approached the Islands the sky over the North Sea was completely clear leaving the clouds over the mainland.

One of the boats transporting people to and from the Islands

Before landing on the main island – Inner Farne – the boat took a trip around some of the other islands that make up the Farnes, giving some good views of Guillemots perched on the cliffs. Once landed, it was a case of running the gauntlet of Terns which nested right next to the walkway as they didn’t seem to take too kindly to people walking right past their chicks. Head protection definitely recommended!

Because you have only an hour on the island, I decided to head directly to the spot that had given me the best views of the Puffins and hopefully, with the experience gained last year, I would get some good images. It was good to see that there seemed as many as before and they seemed to be as active, as with all the heavy rain over the last few months along with the cold spells, their nests in their underground burrows may have been in trouble.

You can’t help but feel sorry for Puffins. As if it wasn’t enough that the weather this year has been particularly bad, and their food source is diminishing due to warming seas, they have to get through hundreds of Gulls waiting by their burrows to rob them of their hard earned catch as they fly in.

Leaving the Farnes in the distance for another year

As with the last time I went to the Farne Islands, I will do a second post to cover more of the images taken due to the large amounts to process.

Sunday, 3 June 2012

It’s the beginning of June, it’s damp, it’s grey it’s windy and it’s barely 10 degrees, yes, it’s summer, still I thought I’d venture out early this morning. It was strange – it looked like winter, it felt like winter, but there were sounds of summer – Skylarks and Warblers could be heard but not seen, taking shelter from the wind. I wondered why I wasn’t smart enough to be doing the same thing at this time in morning. The occasional Swallow flew overhead, optimistically looking for any insects.

As I approached one patch of bushes I could hear one Warbler, very enthusiastically singing its amazing song, but was unable to see it. Often they’re perched on top of a branch or bush, but presumably the wind prevented that on this occasion. After searching for a while I spotted it in the cover of the bush so I sat back, made myself confortable and waited in the hope it would show itself a bit more. Eventually, as if for the camera, it broke cover and allowed me to photograph it as it went from one vantage point to another, singing virtually none stop as it was blown around on its perches.

After around 30 minutes, it stopped, seemed to look at me as if to say that’s your lot, and flew away. With that I too decided to take my leave, Hopefully, June will finally see an improvement in the weather this year.